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Sir Keir Starmer(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)<\/p>\nEuropean leaders are set to travel to London this week for a summitSir Keir Starmer(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Sir Keir Starmer has said that closer ties with the EU will be good for the UK\u2019s jobs, bills and borders ahead of a summit on Monday at which he could announce a deal with the bloc.<\/p>\n
The Government is set to host EU leaders in London next week as part of its efforts to \u201creset\u201d relations after Brexit.<\/p>\n
Reports suggest a deal on British access to a major EU defence fund could be on the table but arguments over fishing rights and a youth mobility scheme may provide stumbling blocks to an agreement.<\/p>\n
Sir Keir appeared to signal that a youth mobility deal could be possible, telling The Times that while freedom of movement was a \u201cred line\u201d in talks, \u201cyouth mobility is not freedom of movement\u201d.<\/p>\n
Kaja Kallas, the EU<\/a>\u2019s high representative for foreign affairs, said on Friday that work was progressing on a defence deal but that \u201cwe\u2019re not there yet\u201d.<\/p>\n Sir Keir met European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen later that day on the margins of the European Political Community summit in Albania.<\/p>\n The Prime Minister has repeatedly declined to give a \u201crunning commentary\u201d on the talks or engage in what he described as \u201cmegaphone diplomacy\u201d with the EU.<\/p>\n But he said on Friday he was \u201cpositive\u201d ahead of the talks. It comes after the UK sealed a trade agreement with India and a deal with the US to ease tariffs.<\/p>\n Sir Keir said: \u201cIn this time of great uncertainty and volatility, the UK will not respond by turning inwards but by proudly taking our place on the world stage \u2013 strengthening our alliances and closing deals in the interests of British people.<\/p>\n \u201cFirst India, then the United States \u2013 in the last two weeks alone that\u2019s jobs saved, faster growth and wages rising. More money in the pockets of British working people, achieved through striking deals not striking poses.<\/p>\n \u201cTomorrow, we take another step forwards, with yet more benefits for the United Kingdom as the result of a strengthened partnership with the European Union<\/a>. It will be good for our jobs, good for our bills and good for our borders.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what the British people voted for last year, and it\u2019s what my government will deliver.\u201d<\/p>\n Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who has promised to rip up Sir Keir\u2019s deal with the EU if it breaches her red lines on Brexit, said she was \u201cworried\u201d about what the Prime Minister might have negotiated.<\/p>\n